Recent Advances in Mesostructured Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion Reactions

Abstract

Since their emergence in 1992, mesostructured materials have demonstrated remarkably diverse functionality, enabling applications across a myriad of fields. Their defining characteristics-three-dimensionally interconnected frameworks and uniform mesopores-render them particularly well suited for electrocatalytic energy conversion. These structural features provide high specific surface area, efficient mass transport, resistance to Ostwald ripening, nanoscale confinement effects, and highly dense engineered surface defects. In this review, we summarize recent advances in mesostructured electrocatalysts for small molecule conversion reactions relevant to renewable energy conversion and commodity chemical synthesis. We classify the synthetic strategies for mesostructured electrocatalytic materials into four categories: soft-templating, hard-templating, self-templating, and in situ-templating, and describe the chemical principles that underpin each methodology. We highlight representative catalyst compositions and high-performance catalysts for key electrocatalytic processes, including fuel cell catalysis, water electrolysis, and electrosynthesis of commodity chemicals. Finally, we discuss current challenges and outline future directions for the rational design of next-generation mesostructured electrocatalysts.